Dear Students,
this is the document we started to work with last time. I would like to ask you to have a copy for tomorrow’s
session.
I have highlighted the parts we worked on last time.
Tomorrow we will move on to 2.3.2. Exercise 1B, which I have highlighted in blue for you.
I would like you to note that the last task you will need to face is a question you can find on p5.
Thank you.
Tóth Szilvia
2.3. Monolingual dictionaries
 The focus is monolingual English dictionaries.
You are going to complete exercises that are extended to include some dictionary work.
You are going to compare and contrast printed, monolingual dictionaries.
You are going to have a deeper insight into a dictionary’s microstructure.
2.3.1. Lead-in
Check your bookshelves. Do you have any monolingual English dictionaries?
What monolingual dictionaries have you used so far? Check their title, publishing house, date of
publication and list them.
What have you used them for? List your experiences.
Now choose one of them for the following work. OR work with the ones named.
2.3.2. Exercise 1A
 Study the dictionary entry mind (v) taken from a popular monolingual English dictionary and answer the
questions below.
Collins COBUILD English Dictionary for Advanced learners (2001)
 mind /maınd/(minds, minding, minded)

1. If you do not mind something, you are not annoyed or bothered by it.  I don't mind the noise during the
VB:
usu with brd-neg
day... Do you mind being alone?... I hope you don't mind me calling in like this, without an appointment... It
= object to
involved a little extra work, but nobody seemed to mind.
V n/-ing
V n -ing
V
2. You use mind in the expression 'do you mind?' and 'would you mind?' as a polite way of asking
permission or asking someone to do something.  Do you mind if I ask you one more thing?... You don't
mind if they take a look around, do you?... Would you mind waiting outside for a moment?... 'Would you like
me to read that for you?' - 'If you wouldn't mind, please.'
VERB
politeness
V if
V -ing
V
3. If someone does not mind what happens or what something is like, they do not have a strong preference
for any particular thing.  I don't mind what we play, really... I want to play for a top club and I don't mind
where it is... They don't mind what you do.
VB: with brd-neg
V wh
4. If you tell someone to mind something, you are warning them to be careful not to hurt themselves or
other people, or damage something. [BRIT]  Mind that bike!
in AM, usually use watch
VB: usu imper
=watch
Vn
5. You use mind when you are reminding someone to do something or
telling them to be careful not to do something. [BRIT]  Mind you don't burn those sausages.
in AM, usually use make sure or take care
VB: only imper
= make sure
V that
6. If you mind a child or something such as a shop or luggage, you look after it, usually while the person
who owns it or is usually responsible for it is somewhere else. [BRIT]  Jim Coulters will mind the store
while I'm away.
in AM, usually use take care of or watch
VERB
= keep an eye on
Vn
7. If you are offered something or offered a choice and you say 'I don't mind', you are saying politely that
you will be happy with one of the things offered. [BRIT]  'Which one of these do you want?' - 'I don't mind.'
CONVENTION
formulae
=I'm not bothered
8. You can say 'I don't mind if I do' as a way of accepting something that someone has offered to you,
especially food or drink. [OLD-FASHIONED]
CONVENTION
formulae
9. You say 'Don't mind me' to apologize for your presence when you think that it might embarrass someone,
and to tell them to carry on with what they were doing or about to do.
CONVENTION
10. You use don't mind in expressions such as don't mind him or don't mind them to apologize for
someone else's behaviour when you think it might have offended the person you are speaking to.  Don't
mind the old lady. She is getting senile.
11. Some people say 'Mind how you go' when they are saying goodbye to someone who is leaving. [BRIT,
INFORMAL]
PHRASE
PHR n
CONVENTION
formulae
= take care
12. People use the expression if you don't mind when they are rejecting an offer or saying that they do not
want to do something, especially when they are annoyed.  'Sit down.' - 'I prefer standing for a while, if you
don't mind.' ... If you don't mind, we won't talk about it any more.
PHRASE
PHR with cl
feelings
13. You use mind you to emphasize a piece of information that you are adding, especially when the new
information explains what you have said or contrasts with it. Some people use mind in a similar way. They
pay full rates. Mind you they can afford it... I got substantial damages. It took two years, mind you... You
PHRASE
PHR with cl
emphasis
need a bit of cold water in there to make it comfortable. Not too cold, mind.
14. It you tell someone to mind their language, mind their tongue or mind their manners, you are telling
them to behave properly or politely.
PHRASE
=watch
15. You say never mind when you are emphasizing that something is not serious or important, especially
when someone is upset about it or is saying sorry to you.
CONVENTION
emphasis
16. You use never mind to tell someone that they need not to do something or worry about something
because it is not important or because you will do it yourself.  'I'll go up in one second, I promise.' - 'Never
mind,' I said with a sigh. 'I'll do it.' ...'Was his name David?' - 'No, I don't think it was, but never mind, go on.'
PHRASE
oft PHR n/wh
... Dorothy, come on. Never mind your shoes. They will soon dry off... 'Fewter didn't seem to think so.' 'Never mind what Fewter said.'
17. You use never mind after a statement, often a negative one, to indicate that the statement is even more
true of the person, thing, or situation that you are going to mention next.  I'm not going to believe it myslef,
never mind convince anyone else... Many of the potholes are a danger even to motor vehicles, never mind
PHR-CONJ-COORD
emphasis
= let alone
cyclists.
18. You use never you mind to tell someone not to ask about something because it is not their concern
or they should not know about it. [SPOKEN]  'Where is it?' - 'Never you mind.'
CONVENTION
19. You can say 'I don't mind telling you' to emphasize the statement you are making.  I don't mind
telling you I was absolutely terrified.
PHRASE
PHR with cl
emphasis
20. If you say that you wouldn't mind something, you mean that you would quite like it.  I wouldn't mind
PHRASE
a coffee... Anne wouldn't mind going to Italy or France to live.
PHR with cl
=fancy
What do the diamonds (3 black ones and 2 white ones) represent?
What symbols are used to transcribe the pronunciation?
How are meanings listed?
How is stress marked?
What is highlighted in bold?
What is highlighted in red (not to be found in the dictionary)?
Do the examples stick out from the context?
What information can you find in the second column?
Can you find collocations?
What does the following serve?
=

information in a frame
Which pages of the dictionary do you need to consult to find out what the abbreviations in the
second column mean?
Which pages of the dictionary do you need to consult to interpret anything you can see in this
entry?
2.3.2. Exercise 1B
 mind
Collins COBUILD English
Dictionary for Advanced
learners (2001)
(see above)
....
headword
pronunciation
stress pattern
different forms
grammatical information
definitions
sample sentences
synonyms and antonyms
geographical information
frequency information
style information
pragmatics
cross references
pictures
etymological information
symbols
2.3.3. Exercise 2
 Study the Collins COBUILD English Dictionary for Advanced learners dictionary’s
megastructure. Look at the front pages right before the list of entries, the so-called ‘front matter' and find the
answers to the questions:
What is the Bank of English?
What fundamental principles does the Editor-in-Chief explain behind the defining style of the
dictionary?
How do they try to show the typical collocates of a word? (See: Definitions)
What does pragmatic information in entries mean?
What grammatical information is added to nouns? (See: Grammar)
Check out what the following abbreviations mean:
cont
it
ord
P
pl-N
quest
 How do the microstructures of a monolingual dictionary and of a bilingual general dictionary differ in general?
Compare and contrast this dictionary entry with the entry ‘mind II.’ taken from Angol-magyar nagyszótár we
studied in 2.2.2. Exercise 1. Compare and contrast the microstructure following our list of criteria. (Write 200250 words)